Link for expansible bracelets



G. J. BAUER ET AL LlNK FOR EXPANSIBLE BRACELETS `luly. 10, 19223.

Filed July 26. 1922 Y Patented July 10, 1923.

UNITED? STATES PATENT OFFICE l GEORGE .1.y BAUER, orrAwrucKEr, AND FRANK E. CAELsoN, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE i o r IsLANn.

j c LrNKEoR EXPANSIELE BRACELETS.

Application flied July' 2e, 1922. serial No. 577,616.

`To all whom t may concern.'I`

Be it knownithat we,`-GEoRGE J. BAUER and FRA-NK B. *CARLsom citizens of` the United States,yresiding .at yPawtucket and Providence, respectively, in' the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have vinvented certa-in new` and'useful Improvements in-Iiink's for Expansible Bracelets, of which the following' is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawin's. 1-

IIeretofore l in'bracelets of this character fcoil springshavefbeenused` for yieldably connecting the various links, and it has been found that springs lof this character are `inferior and are not durablevdue to the bracelet being constantly stretched as `a result of it "being slipped fon" and 'off the `hand-of the wearer."v Springs of such a character break and become weak as afresult of such usage,

and when broken the `bracelet must necessarily be repaired, and `when the springs be- 'come weak, the bracelet hangs' loose-upon the wrist vofthe wearer. `Furthermore such springs lare lioused'linthe opposite f overturned edges of the links of the `lbrajce`let, and due to this construction the linksmore or lessl bind, there-fore Ido not expandjvery readily, and 'as-'ai whole, agbracelet seconstructed islmore "orpless' very expensive in construction'as well as to* the customer.

It is, therefore, the purpose of the present invention to provide van eXpansible bracelet, vwherein the construction can bei cheaply f made, permitting theibracelet to be sold reasonably.` l

Another purpose is 'to provide a bracelet of this ch'aracten'wherein the links are more positively connected and guided `relatively toeach other, and also wherein flat 'springs are used, instead Yof coil'springs, so `-as to connect the linksfor expansible movement.

In factE the flat springs, each comprise a plurality of flat straight portions connected by spring loops, so las to cause the `flat portions to relatively spread when lthe springs are eX- p'anded,and to enable them to,` come together, when thevarious links of relatively expanded. f p

A still further purpose is the provision oflat'springs constructed of steel, which may be either silver or goldpla'ted interconnecting' the links, andthereby providing a structure which is more durable, therefore will withstand the constant expansi'ble acthe bracelet are tion of the bracelet, when slipping it on and off and over the hand of the wearer.

A further purpose is the provision of improved connections between the various links for relatively guiding them, and to insure more rigidity between the links, particularly in alignment with each other, and

also to provide a bracelet which may be sold reasonably and which will give better results than bracelets heretofore devised.

The invention further aims to provide' a bracelet, wherein the two halves of the length of the bracelet are similarly constructed. In other words the construction of one-half isthe same as the construction of the other half, `only it is reversed orarranged in the opposite direction. i

The invention further aims to provide an improved hook or catch or connection between each end of the bracelet and the watch, enabling they watch to be connected more positively and securely to the'ends of the bracelet.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no` way limitative and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modifications of detail and desired proportions may be made in the apparatus according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings `and claimed.I

`In the drawings Figure l is a view in perspective of the improved bracelet constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the wrist watch bracelet detached from the watch and shown in plan open up and partly stretched, showing several of the links in section and others in elevation with their springs and link connections in dotted lines' Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the links looking toward the under face thereof, showing the overturned guide and abutment lianges;

VFigure 5 is a detail Vperspective view of one of the back plates 27; v

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the loop or openI links;

luf.)

;overdolled sideflanges 3, and rend abutment langes. The end abutment Iiangeset .do not extendthe. full widthof the plates,

but are foreshortened as shown. In other l' Words the ends of the end abutmenttlanges .4:1 are spaced ,from the endsof theloiigitw dinal side flanges, thereby permitting the side bars 5, of the open or loop links to guide therethrough. The over-rolled longitudinal sideflanges 3 of the plates 1, overlie tlieback r`plates 27, `whili guide the open or loop links ,2, in theirmoveinents relative yto the .plates .rf'lfhegback pla-tes `27 are arrangedover the opener loop-links and act to4 retain the eX- .pansible springs in position, whiletheoverthe back ,plates in position.

rolled longitudinal side flanges 3 act to hold Theback plates have end extensions 28,and areprovicled Withlongitudinal side flanges 29, which en gage between the over-rolled longitudinal ;.sideiflanges `3 of the plates.

It will be noted that the center plates longer. than thepther plates, and ,that two adjacentloop or Open links 7 are rinuch vshorter than the other -openfor looplinks 8. Thetwd shortenopenV ori loopA links 7 ,are A;C0.1.1.nected1.slidablyY to .theopposite ends of thecentral `=longer plate, `whereas `the -reyin aining plates and links are -of 'uniformi v, lengths. Interposed :between certain .of the abutmentrilanges l and the transverse barl at certain of the ends of the open or .loop links are springs 9. AThese springs 9.are

constructedfrom flat steel or other spring materiak which may be either silver orgold plated, or otherwise finished,.toprevent corlrosion, and to Ipermit the bracelet to be very;` easily and quickly adjusted when ex- ,.panded in order to slip over theliand and ,-it then-.wrist of the wearer. The springs '9 are arranged in the open or loop links,-and

certain of the longitudinal over-rolled side i )flanges 3 ofthe plates 1 .are extended around the side bars of the open or loop links sufficiently to -overliethe springs, to

retain them in position, and to` prevent them from springing out, when Ithe, bracelet is removed from the wrist. E' Fhesprings v9 are constructed fromyflat spring material, such as steel or the like, land comprisecollapsible vv,seotionsilL `which areintegrally connected by the cu-rved or rolled portions 11, lwhich actto provide resiliency for, the Vvarioussections 11 of the springs.

throughout their l,

Guided by the longitudinal side flanges 3 of each end plate 1 is afifastener, l`for connecting the expansible bracelet to the loops 12 of the wrist watch 13. The fastener 1a comprises a'main plate'l -provided'with a --slot 16 and having an elongated opening 1T.

The` side portions of the p-late 15 adjacent where the elongated opening 17 is constructed, have their ends connected by a bar 18.

The end portions of the sides 19 of the plate are bentover. toprovidehooks 19, which are. designedtoengageons.; of the loopslfof `the wristwatch. The lfastener also includes a vspringitongue 20, and the body portion of this ltongiue {which `is `constructed of spring' material) i is provided with an oifsetbent part 21,which4isfastened in `any-.suitablemannerin the sloty 16, so that theend portion .22 of the spring plate 20,.willov,erlie. the transverse bar. 23vk of the plate 15. The tongue has an opening 26 andgintegralzwith vone `,of the transverse sidesof theopeningiis. an extension. auxiliary y.tongue 25, Which-.iis curvedg Land extends `tlirouglictlie opening 17 -of theplate '15 and 4is spaced from. the ihooks- -19a in order, ,to retain `the transverse 4rod of `l`theloop 12 in engagementfwith the hooks 19a. i' Obviously Yby moving the, tongue. 2O in lthe i direction vof the arrow a, the vportion.. of the.- tongue20 4 from where the auxiliaryutongue,integrally extends, may be moved ito Vdisengage the transverse bar 18 ofv the-hooks 19a, to enable the fastener tov disengage, the iloop; 1.2i` of. the

wristwatch, while eitheron `or ofi the wrist. The bars of the loops 12 engage lbetweenthe hookspl9 and theauxiliary ,tongue 25, thereby preventing.: lost. motion ofg'the.; connectingggparts` of the wrist 4watch bracelet. Obviouslyk the bent voifset ,portion 2L of.I the tongue 20de contracted, soas toft in the rslot 16 of the plate` l5.

1 In the ioperation, ,.theiasteners. are connected tothe loops l2, andfby expanding the bracelet, tite is obvious lthat it may be stretched over the hand, so that it Vmay-ferr circle the `Wrist -of 4the..-wearer.

Vh-ile- `the wristMwatchbracelet ,is described as beingslippedr ver the hand, to be applied to and removed from the'wrist,.it is theaim of the .invention to .use the fastener to either, side of the Watch, for the purpose of applying and removing the -biacelet;,to and from i .the wrist. :In fact -byi `inciting 'i the tongue 2O Jin` the direction of, the larrow was in Eigufre 7 one -1or the otheraofithe,ends of thebraeelet-.mav-be detached from the Watch ,or connected thereto, for the-purpose ofl applying the bracelet to the-N vr-istLor` removing the same.

The :invention having been A,-set darth, `what isclaimed-is z- Y1.1111.-coinbination,.l a plateiprovided with overturned` parallel .flanges onv its' longitudi- A nal.;edges a `pair vof loop-links, slidablyyengaged with said flanges, the ends of the plate having overturned flanges of lengths substantially equal to the Width between the sides of the loop links, said end flanges engaging between the sides of' the loop links, a baek plate overlying the adjacent ends of the loop links and engagingl under the longitudinal and end flanges.

2. In combination, a plate provided with overturned parallel flanges on its longitudinal edges, a pair of loop links slidably engaged with said flanges, the ends of the plate having overturned flanges of lengths substantially equal to the' width between the sides of the loop links, said end flanges engaging between the sides of the loop links, a back plate overlying the adjacent ends of' the loop links and engaging under the longitudinal and end flanges, said back plate having end flanges conforming to and engaging the first end flanges, and eXpansible means between the adjacent 4ends of the loop links and the end fianges of the back plate.

3. In combination, a plate provided with end fianges, a back plate having end flanges engaging under the first end flanges, loop links of widths substantially equal to and receiving the end flanges of the first named plate, means on the longitudinal edges of the plate and overlying said back plate, thereby holding the back plate in place and acting to guide the loop links.

4. In combination, a plate provided with end fianges, a back plate having end flanges engaging under the end fianges of the first named plate, loop links of widths substantially equal to and receiving the end flanges of the plate, means on the longitudinal edges of the plate and overlying said back plate, thereby holding the back plate in place ,and acting to guide the loop links, and expansible ineans between one end of one of the looplinks and one of the end fianges of the back plate for eXpansibly and yieldably connecting `one of the loop links to the body plate.

In testimony whereof we hereunto our signatures.

GEORGE J. BAUER. FRANK B. CARLSON. 

